If you have any safeguarding concerns about a young person at Vandyke, please contact Mrs V Ruston, Designated Safeguarding Lead, on the main school telephone number (01525 636700) or email rustonv@vandyke.cbeds.co.uk

Internet safety information

Information for students and parents about CEOP (the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre) is available by clicking here.

The CEOP thinkuknow website with information for students and parents about internet safety is available by clicking here.

Student support services

Vandyke has links with a number of external agencies which come into school to provide support for our students.

These services are confidential between the counsellor or health professional and the individual young person. No information is shared with school staff, except as defined in the school’s child protection policy and guidance from child protection law. This is essential to maintain the trust needed for these services to meet the needs of our students.

Appointments can be arranged to see Brook Clinic through the year offices or by seeing Mrs Murray in the Medical Room.

Brook will talk through options and help guide choices. They offer advice about healthy relationships, contraceptives, pregnancy and STIs and can provide contraception, STI testing and pregnancy tests.

Other local Brook Clinics are available at the TACTIC Centre, 17 Hockliffe Street, Leighton Buzzard. Phone: 01525 373838.

4YP offers independent advice and guidance to students about careers and future plans and also helps support young people with applications and career planning. Appointments can be made through Mrs Webb, the school co-ordinator.

The school has counsellors who work with any students who are in need of support or counselling. Students can self-refer through their head of year or may have counselling suggested by a member of staff. Counselling sessions take place in school time and may last for a few weeks or longer depending on circumstances.

All counselling is entirely confidential, within normal safeguarding rules.

Aquarius offers a range of support, information and advice to young people aged between 5 and 18 who use drugs and/or alcohol and also supports young people affected by someone else’s use. Aquarius will come into school to work with individuals or groups, if needed. They are not in school on a regular basis , but we can refer students to them. If you would like more information on this, click here for a link to their website.

Health drop-in sessions

The School Nursing Service offers a drop in session once a week on a Thursday lunchtime. The school nurse can give advice, support and help on a range of medical issues, including nutrition, weight loss/gain, sexual health, injuries or information on any health related matters or concerns.